Sioux City Times

Randy Feenstra, U.S. Congressman representing Iowa’s 4th district since 2021, has recently used social media to address issues affecting Iowa’s agricultural sector and rural communities. In a series of posts between July 23 and July 25, 2025, Feenstra shared his concerns about California's Proposition 12 and highlighted local economic discussions from his county tour.

On July 23, Feenstra wrote, "Today, I submitted for the congressional record letters from Iowa hog farmers about the negative impacts of California's radical #Prop12 mandates on their farms & operations. It's clear. This egregious regulation makes hog farming more costly & raises pork prices for families."

The following day, he continued his criticism of Proposition 12 with another post: "Iowa raises 40% of the nation’s hogs while California produces 1/10 of 1%. Yet, California’s #Prop12 mandates tell Iowa farmers how to raise their hogs. It’s a ridiculous regulation that is raising pork prices and hurting our ag economy. Check out my remarks in the TV story " (July 24).

On July 25, Feenstra shifted focus to community engagement during his ongoing tour across Iowa counties: "Today, on my #36CountyTour, I met with local bankers, farmers, and business owners in Algona. We talked about how President Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” supports our community banks and the need to provide affordable housing and daycare for families in rural Iowa."

Proposition 12 is a California law setting animal welfare standards for products sold within its borders—including pork—regardless of where the animals are raised. The law has drawn criticism from major pork-producing states like Iowa due to its impact on production costs and market access.

Feenstra was born in Hull, Iowa in 1969 and currently resides there. He graduated from Dordt University in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree before entering public service as an Iowa state senator from 2009 to 2021 prior to joining Congress.